Moon Pies: Their Day in the Sun

Have you noticed a relatively recent resurgence of nostalgic American desserts? They seem to be popping up in bakeries and on food blogs everywhere we turn these days. And really, what's better than a gooey, homemade strawberry pop-tart or a rich, chocolatey whoopie pie? How about a moon pie?

If you've done any traveling in the South or are prone to road trips and bad truck stops, you've probably come across moon pies. They're strangely soft graham cracker cookies filled with marshmallow fluff and then the whole sha'bang is dipped in chocolate. According to the Moon Pie website, the Southern treat was born in the 1930's as part of the working man's lunch. A moon pie and an RC Cola were a famed combination—you could actually buy both for a mere nickel. The two were so popular that in the 50's, the classic country song, "Give me an RC and a moon pie" played on radios across the nation.

Today, some things have changed and others have remained exactly the same. You can still find packaged moon pies at many a gas station and novelty food shop. But bakers and pastry chefs are taking the old-school confection and making it their own. In fact, the September issue of Food and Wine has a drop-dead gorgeous photo of Chocolate-Peanut Butter Moon Pies.

Now of course, this isn't the traditional version, but they look darn fine. We're talking crisp sugar cookies filled with chocolate and peanut butter and gobs of marshmallow. If bakers and bloggers are doing wacky, innovative versions of cupcakes and whoopie pies, what's next to come for the moon pie? We'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!